Amanda Dykes: Born of Gilded Mountains

By Kelly Bridgewater

When newcomer Mercy Windsor arrives in Mercy Peak in 1948 after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood's beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood--an abandoned estate with a haunting history--and begins to restore it to its former glory.

But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of that mountain's lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal, Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Engine No. 8, which vanished years ago, along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention another fabled treasure that--if found--could right so many wrongs.

Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.

 

My Thoughts:

Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes is a lyrical story of best friends, a missing train, and opening your heart. As I read this tale, I was captivated by Dykes descriptions of the Gilman mansion and the small town of Mercy Park. I felt like I was transported to this small mountain town, and I honestly, did not want to leave. The characters were a delightful bunch of actors that I have ever read. They hurt and loved together. The story held hidden clues which brought healing to this small town. I loved it. I did not see that aspect of the plot coming. It takes a lot for a story not to have plenty of suspense and action that will capture my attention, but Dykes has done it again. I loved this story. Plus, the cover is fabulous. I really can't wait to own the physical copy of this book. If readers have not read Dykes stories, this is a good one to start with, then I would recommend all of her other stories too.

I received a complimentary copy of Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Amanda Dykes: All the Lost Places

By Kelly Bridgewater

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man's identity remains a mystery . . .

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn't until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

 

My Thoughts:

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes dives into a world of identity. It is a timely novel with so many people trying to figure out who they are by diving into a world of sin and chaos. No, Dykes does not touch on those issues in her story, but she allows her hero in 1807 to dive into the world of discovering who he really is. At first, the story starts a little odd, and I was following the story, but I had no idea what was really occurring. But once the story moved to Italy, it made more sense, and I became fully invested in the character's lives. I love the hunt for the missing pages of the story. I enjoyed reading the actual story as Daniel is translating it while he is in Italy. Both stories intertwined really nicely and had a satisfying ending. Both characters discovered who they were created to be and relished in God's love and plan for their lives. Dykes does have a lyrical way of crafting the description. I took notice of how she described certain things like the water and the lagoon and marveled at her use of imagery to convey the scenes and the emotion of the scenes. Nicely done! Overall, All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes is a unique, yet important story with a lesson that everyone needs to uncover. I really enjoyed the story.

I received a complimentary copy of All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Amanda Dykes: Yours is the Night

 By Kelly Bridgewater

A mysterious song in the forest . . .
A discovery in war-torn France . . .
A journey toward hope. 

The trenches of the Great War are a shadowed place. Though Platoon Sergeant Matthew Petticrew arrived there with a past long marked by shadow, the realities of battle bring new wounds--carving within him a longing for light, and a resolve to fight for it.

One night, Matthew and his comrades are enraptured by a sound so pure, a voice so ethereal, it offers reprieve--even if only for a moment. Soon, rumors sweep the trenches from others who have heard the lullaby too. "The Angel of Argonne," they call the voice: a mysterious presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves. 
 
Raised in the wild depths of the Forest of Argonne, Mireilles finds her reclusive world rocked when war crashes into her idyllic home, taking much from her. When Matthew and his two unlikely companions discover Mireilles, they must embark on a journey that will change each of them forever . . . and perhaps, at long last, spark light into the dark. 

On the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier comes an emotive tale inspired by the courageous soldiers of World War I.

 

My Thoughts:

Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes has a beautiful synopsis that made me grab this novel. I have read the first two books by Dykes and enjoyed the writing style and the story. I have not read many novels that feature around the horror of World War I, but I have read plenty of novels that feature the nightmares circling World War II. This novel sounded interesting, and I know Dykes would do a wonderful job with it. Her writing is nicely done. I could see the mud drenches trenches that the soldiers hovered around in. I could see them coming out of these trenches to fight the Germans. While Dykes has a masterful way of showing the details of the story, I had a hard time with the plot. There was nothing really interesting happening. I got bored pretty early on, and kept switching to other novels. I know it is a World War I story, but it appears it was a history textbook with boring facts. This story did not capture my attention. The characters were flat. I really did not care what they did either. I wanted this novel to be something more, but for me, it was not. If fell really short for me. I have seen some reviews where people love it. It could just be a bad time for me to read a World War I novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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Amanda Dykes: Set the Stars Alight

By Kelly Bridgewater

Lucy Clairmont's family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it's Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she's discovered in her family home.

Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time.

As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers--and the healing--they so desperately seek. 

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Set the Stars Alight is an amazing story in finding the treasures God has for us as we discover our true passions. I adore the cover for Amanda Dykes newest novel Set the Stars Alight. What a beautiful cover! As for the story, I loved learning the past story before the present timeline learned the story. The story opens with us, readers, discovering the characters heart and early passions, then it moves into how those passions guide their future lives and love. Dash is a fascinating hero who loves the stars and everything to do with Lucy; whereas, Lucy wants to discover the reality of what her father's stories mean. As someone who misses her father, I understand the hurt that can take over with a lost parent. The story is interesting, and the writing is wonderful. Overall, Set the Stars Alight is a delightful story with unique characters and unseen twist.

I received a complimentary copy of Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Amanda Dykes: Whose Waves These Are

By Kelly Bridgewater

In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.

Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn't anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

She joins forces with the handsome and mysterious harbor postman, and all her hopes of mending the decades-old chasm in her family seem to point back to the ruins. But with Robert failing fast, her search for answers battles against time, a foe as relentless as the ever-crashing waves upon the sea.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Amanda Dykes debut novel Whose Waves These Are is a time-slip novel taking place during and after World War II and the present era. Dykes novel really doesn't focus on the horrors of World War II, which most novels written about World War II, instead she focuses on the destruction of the war on the people left behind after someone dies during the war. Bob is quite a character and wants to remember his brother by building a lighthouse. The present time storyline is Annie's story. She is looking for home and comes back to see her sick great-uncle. Usually in time-slip novels, either the present or the historical strike me as better written than the other, but Dykes actually wrote both of them really well. I enjoyed reading both sections. The story is unique and filled with fascinating characters. I really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Dykes. I think she might be around for a while.

I received a complimentary copy of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

Amanda Dykes is the author of Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale, the critically-acclaimed bicycle story that invited readers together to fund bicycles for missionaries in Asia. A former English teacher, she has a soft spot for classic literature and happy endings. She is a drinker of tea, a dweller of Truth, and a spinner of hope-filled tales, grateful for the grace of a God who loves extravagantly. (Taken from Amazon.)